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Winter Wonderland

1/26/2016

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Laura Wyatt, Preserve Program Manager, reports on a visit to the Preserve this morning: "The Preserve is gorgeous with the new snow; plan a visit soon!" The fluffy snow covers every tiny branch. Enjoy and bring your camera.
Picture
View from the main gate up the service road. Photo Laura Wyatt
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More feathers at Big Oak Trail

1/23/2016

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PictureBarred owl sitting in the pine trees along Big Oak Trail and Frautschi Point trail. Photo Mariah Myers
Mariah Myers, animal ecologist and naturalist at the Leopold Center, sent us another investigative report  from the Frautschi Point area. 

"I was at Frautschi Point yesterday and discovered a trail of downy feathers in the area of the Big Oak Trail near the open grown oak that was hit in the storm last year. All of the feathers were gray and black, none of them appeared to be flight feathers so I don't have an ID but, I would bet on a songbird like chickadee or junco. Not nearly as exciting as the crime scene from a couple of weeks ago. 

In the area near the owl crime scene, there were pieces of a hornet's nest on the opposite side of the trail and a chunk of the inside of the nest like the honeycomb (not sure technical term) was next to a pile of canid scat that was in the very middle of the trail. I know the scat was there post owl massacre, I noticed it a few days after, but the hornet's nest was not there at that time. I don't think the canine had anything to do with the downed hornet's nest but, it has instilled curiosity as to what did.

Today I returned to Frautschi Point, again on the Big Oak Trail, and found more feathers that appeared to match yesterday's discovery and definitely were not there yesterday. As I was investigating the new feathers, I heard a pair of barred owls nearby. The first owl sounded like it was coming from the pines near the main trail that leads to the Frautschi Point parking lot and the responding call came from the pines near the owl crime scene from a couple of weeks ago. I proceeded to investigate and moved quickly in search of the second owl since it seemed closer and easier to get to. Sure enough, I spotted the owl in the very tree next to the crime scene! Attached is a photo of the owl who was being chastised by black-capped chickadees." 
Mariah confesses that she is "a sucker for investigating and wondering about every little thing that happens." We all appreciate that. Two years ago, a pair of Barred Owls nested in this very area and produced two owlets (see photos). On Jan 23, Brian Schneider reports on e-bird that he heard Barred owls calling back and forth in the area.

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Nature "crime" scene at Frautschi Point

1/7/2016

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Mariah Myers, expert in animal ecology and wildlife care, shared this report: "I took my dog on a walk this afternoon at Frautschi Point and while on the "Big Oak Trail" we came across a nature crime scene involving many feathers, some lovely entrails and a raptor foot! There were many many animal tracks in the vicinity, most of which were rabbit, squirrel and other small rodents. I did see what appeared to be coyote/fox tracks but the area was too chopped up from all the activity to tell exactly "who done it". 

Anyway, I've attached a few pictures. Nothing too graphic just some of the feathers and a close up of the foot. Any help with ID is welcome." Please help us identify the raptor by submitting your comments.
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New Year brings frosty winter scene

1/2/2016

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PictureView towards the Class of 1918 marsh, now covered with a thin layer of ice.
The last days of 2015 brought freezing temperatures and some snow to the area, after a record warm December with temperatures more than 10° above normal. On this sunny Saturday, people were out in droves walking to the Point and on Lakeshore path, enjoying the beauty of the blue sky, the blue lake, still open, and shores outlined in white. All was bathed in the special light of the winter sun close to the southern horizon. Photos Gisela Kutzbach

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Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
 P.O. Box 5534
 Madison, WI 53705 

UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website

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Related websites:
UW Nelson Institute
UW Arboretum
Clean Lakes Alliance
Groundswell Conservancy
Pleasant Valley Conservancy
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
​
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Volunteering
    • Field Trips >
      • Self-guided Field Trips
    • Community Outreach >
      • Science Expeditions 2021
    • Friends Projects
    • Newsletter
    • Research
    • Citizen Science
  • People & Events
  • The Preserve
    • Stories
    • Maps >
      • 1918 Marsh
      • Eagle Heights Woods
    • Birds >
      • Bluebirds
      • Purple Martins
    • Animals
    • Plants
    • Lichens
  • Support us
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Annual Report
    • Committees & Contact
  • Blog